CARMEN SENERCHIA

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Carmen Senerchia, 81, of Bridgeport, a quick and quiet bartender who worked 10-hour days for nearly 40 years and never ran out of time for his family, died Sunday, May 14, in Christ Hospital and Medical Center in Oak Lawn, after suffering a stroke. Mr. Senerchia attended Ward Elementary School in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood before joining his family's produce business. His longest time away from Chicago was spent serving in the Pacific with the Army during World War II. He mostly lived near his brothers and sisters on the same city block in Bridgeport where weekly family dinners were a tradition. "He was a quiet, hardworking kid from a tight family where everyone pitched in," said his nephew, John Hensley. "He was always that way." Mr. Senerchia began his bartending career in 1946 at the Epicurean Restaurant, a downtown eatery owned by his oldest brother, Frank. Working at a popular and recommended restaurant known for its strudel and other Hungarian delicacies, Mr. Senerchia made a name for himself as a bartender who rarely kept customers waiting. On even the busiest days, Mr. Senerchia rarely asked for help behind the bar. Of course, relatives said he was also happy to help make strudel. "It was making strudel by day, and working the bar at night," said his nephew. "He worked long, long hours." After the restaurant closed in 1966, Mr. Senerchia joined his oldest brother's next venture at The Homestead Restaurant in Blue Island. Mr. Senerchia enjoyed playing pinochle and traveling the United States with his late wife, Jean. Always wanting to have family close by, Mr. Senerchia often traveled with his mother, Nancy. "They were very very close," John Hensley said. Mr. Senerchia retired to Largo, Fla., with his wife in the early 1980s. He returned to Chicago when she died and relatives said he visited her grave nearly every day. Survivors include a sister, Mary Hensley; two brothers, Anthony and James; two step-children, Delphine Moss and Ronald Gralewski; and five grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Blake and Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W. 103rd St., Oak Lawn. Services will be at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.